These Wii games should be released on the Wii U eShop

Nintendo has begun to release Wii games on the Wii U eShop, starting with Super Mario Galaxy 2 and continuing with at least a few more. These games are identical to the originals, except for ease of access and GamePad emulation of the Classic Controller, if the game supports it. Here are six games we think deserve a second chance on the service, even though they haven’t been announced for any territory.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Games like this seem like why Nintendo’s new service was built. The success of Fire Emblem: Awakening has found a new audience for the franchise, and high demand and low supply has kept the entry price high for those looking to give the game a try. What’s more, it’s perfectly playable with the Classic Controller, meaning it would work wonders as an off-TV GamePad play option.

Radiant Dawn’s true value lies in its scale. It sports larger maps and a more sprawling campaign than Awakening, and its use of transforming units and double-promotions means you can get truly invested in the push-and-pull of who to focus on in your training efforts. — Graham Russell

MadWorld

So far, Nintendo and Platinum Games have had a healthy relationship on the Wii U with the Bayonetta games and The Wonderful 101. Reaching back for Platinum’s sole Wii release seems only fitting. Jack’s bloody rampage through the twisted “DeathWatch” reality tv show is just the kind of thing the Wii U’s more “core gamer”-focused audience should enjoy, but was more or less lost amongst the more family-friendly fare of the Wii library. Unfortunately there isn’t any Classic Controller support, but fans who enjoy that trademark Platinum brand of action should be able to look past this. — Chris Ingersoll

ExciteBots: Trick Racing

The first two Wii games in Nintendo’s Excite racing series were some of the most engaging racers of the generation. Both offered fast-paced, pick-up-and-play arcade-style races that justified the Wii’s motion controls, while staying true to the jumping stunts of the original Excitebike. This style of gameplay is perfectly-suited to a downloadable title, giving the player a quick experience that can be accessed at any time for a few races before switching back to more substantial fare.

While Excite Truck may have wowed early adopters, its sequel took all of the ideas presented in that game and polished them to a mirror shine. Countless new means of locomotion and stunt options make it the more complete of the two, and the best racing experience of the last generation that Nintendo could re-release… that doesn’t have “Mario” in the title. — Victoria Dominowski

Super Paper Mario

Super Paper Mario is undoubtedly a flawed game, and it shows the beginnings of where the series starts to stray from the original Paper Mario mold, but it’s fun, and worlds ahead of the 3DS Sticker Star that followed. With the sterling reputations of the original Paper Mario and The Thousand-Year Door, I feel like this one got missed by many. A re-release on the Wii U might be the perfect way to bring people back into the series, and hopefully set up a sequel in the future. — Ryan Dunn

Opoona

I never thought of the Wii as an amazing system for RPGs, but then I realize one of my favorite RPGs of the last generation released on Nintendo’s motion control-based system: Opoona. It’s not the most groundbreaking RPG around and its translation is far from perfect, but it more than makes up for it in charm. It deserves way more attention that it inevitably received and seeing it re-released on the Wii U’s eShop will give plenty of people a chance to finally check out this cult classic. — Andrew Passafiume

Rhythm Heaven Fever

Unless you went to a GameStop at the time of this game’s release, odds are you’ve probably never seen this game in action. Being able to slap this game on the face of the Nintendo eShop would definitely do it some good, and maybe get it the attention it deserves. From its simple gameplay mechanics to the amazing aesthetics and music, this game oozes charm. I would want nothing more to see people enjoy this game and laugh really hard at the wrestler interview. — Eric Albuen